Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

Grant ID:
3986.02

Project Title:
Healing the Children, Restoring the Family: The Child and Family Art Therapy

Project
Project Description:
With
the guidance of Elders and Survivors, the Child and Family Art Therapy
Project has been designed to help Aboriginal children and families heal
from the Inter generational impacts of the Legacy. Created as a structured, cumulative
series of traditional teachings, topical art experiences and parenting
information, project activities support children's healthy development
in the context of strengthening relationships within extended family
and community life. This combination of individual and
group art-making experiences with culturally based education and
healing empowers families to create more supportive and trusting
relationships as an integral part of reclaiming positive Aboriginal
identity and pride.

The
goal of the Child and Family Art Therapy Project is to end the Inter
generational cycle of abuse and neglect in aboriginal families with
young children by improving parenting skills and strengthening family
relationships.
A range of sequential, cumulative programming activities has been created to achieve this goal as follows:

1) Providing a structured, culturally based Art Therapy program for Aboriginal children and
their families
that addressed the Inter generational impacts of Legacy.
2) Providing Parent Support Circles to parents / caregivers registered in the program.
3) Providing opportunities to apply the parenting skills and concepts learned in the program
through nutritious communal meals and other group parent / children activities including a
artwork in parent / child dyads, homework club, and ongoing group cultural celebrations.
4) Recruiting and training a Circle of Inuit, Metis and First Nations Youth / Grandparents as
ongoing resources for children and parents / caregivers in the program.
5) Developing and sustaining formal, inter agency referral and case coordination mechanisms
to ensure the full range of family needs are met using a multi disciplinary approach.
6) Providing opportunities for community members as well as Wabano and partner agency staff
members to learn about the direct and Inter generational impacts of residential school abuse
and forced relocation and the role of art-making as a tool in healing.
7) Carrying out evaluation activities in collaboration with Elder / Survivors to ensure the viability
and usefulness of the project in family and community healing.